On November 1st, the Toronto Raptors faced the Los Angeles Lakers in their first of two meetings with California teams on a back-to-back weekend. A mild Friday night in Toronto typically leads to a strong turnout, and this game was no exception. However, it was surprising to see who the fans were cheering for.
With a rich history and a legacy of iconic players, the Lakers are one of the NBA’s most celebrated franchises. From legends like Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, the team's star-studded roster has earned admiration far and wide. Despite being in what should have been enemy territory, the Scotiabank Arena was awash in the Lakers' signature purple and gold.
The Lakers were obvious fan favorites over the Raptors
I get it’s the Los Angeles Lakers. They have LeBron James and fans from all over the world.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) November 2, 2024
The ratio of Lakers to Toronto Raptors fans tonight at Scotiabank Arena was disappointing. This is what happens when you price out the true diehards of the home team.
The Lakers opened the game strong, outscoring the Raptors 43-19 in the first quarter and dominating inside the paint. Throughout the game, Toronto fans reacted with enthusiasm to the Lakers' plays, especially those made by LeBron James. This raised the question of whether the crowd was simply excited to see one of the greatest players in the game during what could be one of his final appearances in Toronto.
The legend of "LeBronto" is well-known, as LeBron has a history of triumphing over the Raptors. On this occasion, he excelled once again, scoring 27 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out ten assists while hitting 5-of-8 from three-point range. His commanding performance left the crowd in awe and ignited discussions on social media regarding the loyalty and devotion of fans in Toronto.
Fans cheering harder for lebron open threes than Jakobes first bucket pic.twitter.com/X5qmLQhfyN
— Japanese Jafar 🧛🏾🇦🇺🇳🇱 (@Bantonappp) November 2, 2024
Concerns have been voiced on social media about whether the awkward crowd turnout for Raptors games is a result of "pricing out the true diehards". In Toronto, Raptors tickets are notoriously expensive, making them a less accessible form of entertainment for many fans, even in the upper levels of the arena. This issue isn't limited to the Raptors alone, as fans have criticized Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for the high costs associated with tickets for their major teams.
Although we cannot solely attribute the Lakers' dedicated fanbase at Scotiabank Arena to this sentiment, it certainly played a significant role. While it's not unusual for fans to cheer for the opposing team during home games, it was striking to witness a predominantly pro-Raptors crowd overshadowed by rival supporters. Such is the nature of sports, where unexpected dynamics often unfold.